I loaded a second copy of the game in a new directory and then updated it to V 1.08.04. Now when I try to start a new game I get the attached screen which does not allow me to do anything. I get this even if I drop out and re-start the game in the old directory which has version 1.07.02 installed.
I don't know about the first issue, and it looks like one for Marshall, unless some of the other play testers can assist.
The second could well be a missing font set. A search of past posts wil likely reveal which font you need. See the thread titled "box text problems" a little further down the list of threads in the technical support forum for the solution (likely a reboot).
It is possible the two issues are related, in that the game is looking in wrong locations for both the opening selection of scenarios page and the missing font.
It seems odd that I'd be missing a font set since I've been playing the game for a couple of years with no issues like that. Would the upgrade have written over those font sets?
I'll try a fresh install with the second setup on a different hard drive.
This is an old problem that seems to exist in the installer. The installer is registering the font BUT it is not taking until a reboot BUT the funny thing is that this is not the case on all systems???!